Letters to the Editor: On the attack on the Pittsburgh synagogue

Megyn Kelly’s show was canceled by NBC after questioning on the air why dressing up in blackface for a Halloween costume is wrong.

Photo: Charles Sykes / Invision / Associated Press 2017

The Pittsburgh synagogue massacre was an act of anti-Semitic hate. A gunman walked into a Jewish house of worship and screamed: “All Jews must die.” He murdered 11 human beings solely because they were Jewish. This massacre was also the result of a hate-poisoned mind having easy access to weapons of war in an environment where hate is surging.

Congress is too craven to enact meaningful gun control measures that might prevent or at least reduce the carnage of mass shootings. And our leaders including President Trump sow hatred and division daily, normalizing bigotry. Anti-Semites in particular — from tiki-torch-bearing “alt-right” marchers in Charlottesville to anti-Israel groups on college campuses — have been appeased and emboldened.

The America I believe in is one where we respect and honor our differences and unite to reject hate. Without a renewed ethos of civility, this will happen again ... and again.

Stephen A. Silver, San Francisco

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Naturally, the anti-Trump crowd, which includes most of the media, were quick in trying to associate the pipe bomber with the president. Did Trump’s rhetoric actually cause a mentally deranged individual to mail pipe bombs? Hogwash. President Trump’s speeches may be politically incorrect, but they don’t rise to the level of pipe bombs. Need I mention the rantings of Democratic lawmakers like Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters and Cory Booker? They have all but called for violence in one form or another.

Would it be fair to equate these individuals to the violence we see anytime a conservative makes a public appearance?

Raymond Moreno, San Francisco

Take action — vote

The governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, said, “This is not who we are as Americans.” He is wrong. This is who we are. But this is not who we need to be. Vote. Don’t vote your own personal agenda. Vote for your children. Vote for your grandchildren. Vote for humanity and compassion.

Tim Curley, Sonoma

A Page One story

I was shocked to see the horrific shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue relegated to a A12 story on Sunday. It deserved front page coverage!

Rissa Coplan, Oakland

The new normal

Recent events have clarified one thing for me. There is something that can be said about Donald Trump and his presidency that contains the word normal: Increased hate and violence are becoming the new normal.

Kenneth Koutz, Guerneville

About that caravan

President Trump’s crude threats to halt the progression of desperate Central Americans traveling north to seek asylum remind me of an old Egyptian saying: “The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.” In the end, justice will not be denied.

Alan Tobey, Berkeley

The Trump factor

POTUS: You reap what you sow.

John Baker, Walnut Creek

Diversify supply

Regarding “Be an innovator on water use” (Editorial, Oct. 23): I agree with the editorial board that the Bay Area cannot continue to rely solely on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir for its drinking water supply. Climate change will bring drier years, resulting in less water, and the next big earthquake is on the way.

That is why the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission continues to make major investments in innovative solutions to diversify our water supply. In 2012, San Francisco was the first municipality in the country to adopt legislation allowing buildings to collect, treat and use alternative water sources for non-potable demands, such as toilet flushing, cooling and irrigation. In 2017, we launched a pilot program blending groundwater into the system.

And this year, we broke ground on a new recycled water treatment facility that will recycle wastewater and use it to irrigate city parks. There is more we can do. These projects take time and money, so before we move forward on large-scale alternative water projects, we need the commitment and support of all San Franciscans.

My job is to ensure a reliable water supply for the 2.7 million customers who depend on us for drinking water every day while also continuing our commitment to protecting the environment. I do not take that responsibility lightly.

Harlan Kelly Jr., general manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco

A bought system

Between the mountains of self-serving campaign literature I’m getting in the mail, and the multiple millions being poured into the election by wealthy special interests, according to Ballotpedia, I’m reassured that the U.S. has the best political system money can buy.